What Was the Song of the Summer?

Miriam Levin ’26 Lead Arts Editor

Although this summer has been relaxing, it is time to get back into the groove, drink some of that “me espresso,” and reflect on all the new music that has come out these past few months.

Although this summer has been relaxing, it is time to get back into the groove, drink some of that “me espresso,” and reflect on all the new music that has come out these past few months. Scrolling through

social media, I see advertisements for new musicians I’ve never heard of, claiming their songs as the “song of the summer.” Although it is a good marketing tactic, it got me thinking: Can there only be one “song of the summer”?

If you are trying to pick the song of this past summer, as Chappell Roan would say, “Good luck babe.” Due to the abundance of music released over the last couple of months, choosing only one song is a difficult task. Artists including ROLE MODEL, Gracie Abrams, Charli xcx, Towa Bird, and Normani released new albums. Taylor Swift even dropped a release with 31 whole songs on it. Don’t get me wrong, I never turn down a new album to blast in the car, especially since I just recently started driving alone; however, how much is too

much? Singers are churning out album after album and single after single, making it impossible to keep up with them.

Online, it is so easy for a song to take off and become the “song of the summer.” Social media, without a doubt, is the most powerful tool for emerging entrepreneurs, artists, and people who want to see if micro-bangs are a good idea. (I am proud to say that after a few days of research, I concluded that no, no one can pull them off.) A few weeks ago, someone posted a TikTok to “Good Luck Babe” by Chappell Roan. Being the stan that I am, commented “I love Chappell.” To my surprise, the response I got was “What does that mean lol.” Online, it is so easy for a song to take off and become the “song of the summer.” Tracks by artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have gained traction and streams thanks to apps such as TikTok and Instagram.

When a musician waits to put out their work, the anticipation makes it that much more exciting. One of the most awaited albums in the music scene this fall is Shawn by Shawn Mendes. Because Mendes disappeared from the music industry for around two years, the suspense leading up to his latest album is higher than ever. Rather than vying to be the next trending artist or write the song of the summer, Mendes waited until his fans were ready to hear more from him and used his music as a true creative outlet, rather than a cash grab. In my opinion, it is so much more effective when a singer truly puts time and effort into their work. I am not saying that those mentioned earlier have not done so, but the more time in between albums, the more fans crave something new. Similar to fast fashion, the music industry rushes to make the next “song of the summer,” causing a lack of excitement when new music is released.

For me, a song of the summer should be lyrically creative and relatable, while also being compositionally complex. One specific track off of ROLE MODEL’s album that accomplished this is “Look at That Woman.” Whether it be the lightweight, nostalgic feel of the production and raw vocals, the song is perfect to blast in the car on a summer drive. With this single, for me, ROLE MODEL achieved “song of the summer” nirvana.

All of this being said, I don’t have an answer for what the true song of the summer was. For me it was “Look at That Woman.” The next person, however, could vibe just as much with “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. It truly comes down to personal taste. Many of my friends loved “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter or “Ew” by Towa Bird. Although these songs are on many of my playlists, they don’t gel with the music taste that I

have developed these past few months.

The music industry has been kept us, if anything, too well-fed this past summer. However, just because one song is blowing up on social media, doesn’t mean that you have to blast it every time you get in the car (unless you think it’s a bop, of course). Death Metal, Rap, R&B, Pop, and Country are all amazing genres featuring talented producers and singers.

Even though music production is moving incredibly fast, and social media intertwines songs and trends in such a way that we sometimes can’t resist (or escape) a particular track, your song of the summer should be specific to you. Because, at the end of the day, it is your summer.

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What Was the Song of the Summer?